Space engineer salary 10 million, how can you dream of reaching the vast space?

In fact, many Vietnamese aerospace engineers still live and do scientific research with a salary of 10 million VND, so is that income enough to nurture the dream of conquering space?

Mr. Dang Van Thang is a researcher at the Vietnam Space Center (Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology). As a staff member of an important unit with specialized work, few people know that he has been struggling to make ends meet for the past 12 years - a feeling that makes him feel sad every time he mentions it.

Thang shared that his income is about 10 million VND/month including salary, bonus and irregular income from projects. He cannot take care of his wife and children without help from his parents.

His wife is an employee of a company with higher income than him, but the higher income is not significant. With the income of both husband and wife, he does not dare to think about buying a small apartment in Hanoi . Currently, his family lives with his parents so it helps to reduce some of the rent costs.

“With the current cost of living and children’s education in Hanoi, my wife and I’s income is barely enough. I don’t know if one day I will have to put my passion aside. If that happens, it will be one of the saddest days of my life,” Thang confided.

Staff of the Vietnam Space Center in the research room (Photo: VNSC)

After graduating from a domestic university and deciding to pursue a research career, Mr. Thang continued his studies for a master's degree. When he joined the Vietnam National Space Center (VNSC), the agency sent him to attend advanced training courses in Japan.

These courses usually last several months and are 100% paid by the State - from airfare to accommodation and tuition. He said this is a huge investment by the State for him and his colleagues. Many people are even sent by their agencies to study master's degrees abroad, also with the State budget.

“In short, to become an aerospace engineer at VNSC, whether following my path (studying domestically, training abroad) or my colleagues’ (full-time study abroad), the State invests a lot of money and effort”. For him, this is also one of the reasons that keeps him staying with the agency until now. “It is the responsibility of the State’s investment” , he said.

Sharing about the salary calculation method when working at VNSC, Mr. Thang said that because it is a special unit, the agency does not have any income other than salary. “Our salary is calculated entirely based on the coefficient, rank, and level of civil servants according to general regulations. Normally, after 3 years of work, I am considered for a salary increase once. Each time, I only get a few hundred thousand dong more, which is an almost insignificant change.

An income of less than 10 million VND/month is too little compared to the intelligence and the amount of work we are doing, too little compared to the effort and expenses that the State invests in us to go to school. If I live alone and save, maybe it will be enough, but it is not enough to take care of the family .

According to Dr. Le Xuan Huy, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam Space Center, most of the staff and engineers are still attached to the center because of economic support from their families.

Those who remain here are mostly helped by their families to buy houses, or live with their parents, or their spouses have good incomes. For young people who have to work for themselves, it is very difficult to settle down in Hanoi with this income level.

Mr. Thang – who is still at VNSC – listed four main reasons why he is still attached to the agency. “Firstly, because I still ‘love’ it. It gives me the passion to contribute, explore and conquer the pinnacle of science and technology. Second, as I said, it is because of the responsibility towards the State’s investment when we received the transfer of a large volume of facilities and high-tech equipment with great value.

Third, every day I am inspired by talented and enthusiastic colleagues and encouraged by the Center's leadership. The last reason - I still hope for change and salary reform for scientists, especially in the aerospace industry in the near future."

As for Mr. Phong, after experiencing the working environment in the private sector, he said that private enterprises always use incentives to retain employees who can do their jobs. In addition to a fixed salary, he also receives a very significant bonus based on work results and company profits; his family is covered by premium health insurance; there are subsidies for lunch, travel, phone calls, etc. and an environment that invests heavily in machinery and equipment to optimize work performance.

He believes that the issue of scientists' income is a macro problem. But as a person who has passed away, he suggests finding a way for scientists to "settle down".

“Housing is the biggest burden for young scientists, especially those from other provinces. The government needs to have a public housing fund, or preferential and substantial policies to support interest rates on loans to buy social housing. When the 'roof' problem is solved, they will feel secure to stay.

The salary mechanism cannot apply the normal administrative salary scale, especially for special research units with great responsibilities and no source of income like the Vietnam Space Center. Salary must be calculated based on capacity, the specificity of the industry and at least ensure a stable life for workers and their families.

Mr. Phong said, “If the problem of ‘settling down’ and minimum income is not solved, the State will find it very difficult to retain dedicated minds. Because no matter how passionate they are, they still have the responsibility to take care of their small families.”

* Names of characters in this article have been changed upon request.

Minh Hoan - Nhat Anh

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/luong-ky-su-vu-tru-10-trieu-sao-mo-den-duoc-khong-gian-bao-la-ar990311.html